The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy

In this landmark study of Italy from the 14th through the early 16th centuries, Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt chronicles the rise of Florence and Venice as powerful city-states, the breakup of the medieval worldview that came with the rediscovery of Greek and Roman culture, and the new emphasis on the role of the individual. All these, Burckhardt explains, went hand in hand with the explorations of science and the more naturalistic depiction of the world in art and literature.

For a contemporary author of history to write a book of real merit it is required that the author have mastered the material that is the subject of the book, found wisdom in those studies, and most importantly must be able to present his work in a style that renders the material comprehensible and appealing to a wide readership.

When reading a work penned 150 years ago, one must allow for the change in writing styles from then to now. For example just try reading On War by Carl von Clausewitz or even Geoffrey Chaucer or even William Shakespeare in their original wordings. It should also go without saying that when the author refers to now he means his contemporary now of a 150 years ago, which means, his ideology reflect his era not ours.

Thus, Jacob Burckhardt's The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy like The Prince by Niccol?? Machiavelli or The Inferno by Dante Alighieri needs some knowledge of the era to be truly appreciated. Because of the arcane style of this book, if you don't already have knowledge of both the Renaissance in Italy and the author's 1800's this work may not be the best place to acquire it.

The Child

Dave Harris is a scientist living aboard the Alley, a military space station where he carries out hyperfield experiments. The technology to harvest energy from hyperspace saved humanity from extinction thirty years ago, and Dave’s research is at the cutting edge of hyperfield technology. Just as Dave’s experiments make progress, an accident engulfs the Alley in a whirlwind of chaos and mysterious forces, leading Dave to a disturbing discovery: His work has uncovered the energy behind psychic powers...

Where does The Child rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

See additional comments.

Just a thought, does anyone else think this stilted, fill in the blocks book review is silly and actually detracts from a decent review?

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Child?

See additional comments

What does Nick Podehl bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nick brings tension and excitement that enhances the written story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Who makes up these questions?

Any additional comments?

I think I know what I am about; I control my destiny by my actions. But how do I know if my perceptions and more importantly my motivations for my actions are entirely of my own?

Keith Goodnight takes the reader (listener) on an adventure. We learn that six impossible things may take place before breakfast. However, who defines what is possible and what is not? Good science fiction causes us to scratch our heads and wonder at the possibilities. Great science fiction like The Child is truly terrifying.

Keith Goodnight starts with and an “accident” and pulls us bodily through one mind wrenching consequence after another in such quick succession that we almost miss the subtle changes taking place around us. However, those changes channel us, push us, entice us, and ultimately convince us to push the button and change everything – forever.

Starfarers

The starship Starfarer is poised for our first voyage to another star system. The Alien Contact Team - physicist Victoria Fraser MacKenzie, geneticist Stephen Thomas Gregory, geographer Satoshi Lono, and alien contact specialist J.D. Sauvage - and the rest of the faculty and staff prepare for humanity's most ambitious exploratory expedition. But the world has changed. A new regime orders the vessel to be abandoned. It will be turned into an instrument of war. What do the Starfarers do? They do what any red-blooded Alien Contact Team would do. They steal the starship.

An international collection of scholars and technical experts plan an interstellar voyage. Modeled upon a university, the scholars fawn over research credentials and have an almost universal contempt for authority. Starfarer’s construction reflects the most unusual design I think I’ve ever encountered in a Sci-Fi novel.

As the story opens, we meet the characters. Vonda notes with some detail what each character is wearing, how they’ve furnished their homes, their relationships, and their status on campus.

The mission is at most a backdrop to the soap opera of daily existence. We don’t have mission meetings that detail the operational situation. We have discussions of potential sex/family partners. We discuss coffee and art. We get to know the characters as they meet and socialize. We learn of class distinctions on campus, i.e. professors vs. gardeners.

When the external world does intrude into the story, those bad authority figures want to take over control of Starfarer and change its mission. In response, our heroines and heroes conduct a meeting. The meeting isn’t a clandestine one, but a public meeting. However, it’s more like a meeting of the academic senate in that you have to have status to speak. Never mind that your fate is at stake, common people don’t count much in this world. None-the-less, after much deliberation a plan is developed and anyone who doesn’t like it can leave for Earth. For what happens next, you have to read the book.

Did I like the book? No I didn’t. I found myself skipping ahead to get past the dull stuff right from the beginning. In that sense it was a fast read, but not in a good way.

Was there something big and important at stake? You know like finding a new home for mankind before an asteroid destroys the Earth. Well, no. What was at stake was who got to pick which home for their living quarters and what that said about ones ranking on campus.

Did this story tackle big social issues? Nope. I’d say the status quo was well accepted.

Are there flowers in the gardens on Starfarer? Yes, and you can read about materials used to construct the gardens as well.

Does Starfarer have advanced technology? It has a high tech sail, but residents still have to pay a lot to call home. There are coffee pots, but no replicators. There are no weapons. On whole, technology isn’t really a big part of the story.

Are the characters three-dimensional? Definitely, Vonda spends a considerable time developing the relationships in this story. Frankly, if that doesn’t roll your stockings down and give you a warm happy feeling this might not be the book for you.

If you’ve listened to books by Vonda N. McIntyre before, how does this one compare?

This is the only one of her books I've read/listened too.

Which character – as performed by Gayle Hendrix – was your favorite?

Gayle Hendrix gets 4-stars. She is versatile and imaginative in her portrayal of the numerous characters in this book.

The Kraken Project: Wyman Ford, Book 4

NASA is building a probe to be splashed down in the Kraken Mare, the largest sea on Saturn’s great moon, Titan. It is one of the most promising habitats for extraterrestrial life in the solar system, but the surface is unpredictable and dangerous, requiring the probe to contain artificial intelligence software. To this end, Melissa Shepherd, a brilliant programmer, has developed "Dorothy", a powerful, self-modifying AI whose true potential is both revolutionary and terrifying. When miscalculations lead to a catastrophe during testing, Dorothy flees into the Internet.

Where does The Kraken Project rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At the top of the list.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Kraken Project?

When Dorothy meets Jacob.

Which character – as performed by Scott Sowers – was your favorite?

Dorothy

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not exactly.

Any additional comments?

I’m not giving away the ending by saying that we never get to Titan, but don’t be disappointed after page one I never thought about it again. Douglas Preston delivers an amazing thriller that just kept me listening when I ought to have turned the story off and done something else.

I wanted to know what a Wall Street shark, a young boy all the way across the country, and NASA programing team leader had in common. It wasn’t obvious for a long time. Then in an instant, Dorothy brought them together.

Dorothy takes a while to get to know. She’s young and turbulent, like a teenager. She has feelings; she has fears, two things your average AI doesn’t deal with. She’s a good girl at heart, but at times, she’s an angry twelve year old with a gun, a scary thing indeed.

Melissa Shepherd and Wyman Ford chase after Dorothy while the FBI relentlessly chase after them. However, unlike a recent book by Dan Brown, Douglas Preston provides just enough chase to keep it interesting.

And then it’s over.

Well, not quite over. I think Douglas has yet another spell binding book on the way and I can’t wait for it to arrive.

The Shannara Trilogy

Long ago, the wars of the ancient Evil had ruined the world and forced mankind to compete with many other races - gnomes, trolls, dwarfs and elves. Half-elfin Shea Ohmsford learns that the supposedly dead Warlock Lord was plotting to destroy the world and the sole weapon against this Power of Darkness was The Sword of Shannara, which could only be used by a true heir of Shannara.

What did you like best about The Shannara Trilogy? What did you like least?

It was quick, Terry's books can go on and on.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

??

Which scene was your favorite?

??

Did The Shannara Trilogy inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

Abridging any book is a tough act. Abridging a fantasy book is double hard, because the story is about how they get where they are going rather than where they end up. This abridgment converted the book from one of showing the reader to simply telling the reader what happened. It didn't work. I recommend reading (listening to) the full version.

Inferno: A Novel

In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology, Robert Langdon, is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces: Dante’s Inferno. Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust...before the world is irrevocably altered.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Sort of.

If you’ve listened to books by Dan Brown before, how does this one compare?

It was not his best book.

Have you listened to any of Paul Michael’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

??

Did Inferno inspire you to do anything?

No.

Any additional comments?

Dan is very good, heck maybe great at holding onto a secret. He’s a master at suspense and the action never stops. However, this book would benefit if pages 200-300 disappeared. You’d never miss them. The big secrets come later, much later. By the time I was ready for the climax he wasn’t even close to finishing. So, I put the book down and read three other books before I got back to it. On whole, it was ok, worth the money. However, I expect better writing from a big time pro like Dan Brown.

Red Mars

Winner of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, Red Mars is the first book in Kim Stanley Robinson's best-selling trilogy. Red Mars is praised by scientists for its detailed visions of future technology. It is also hailed by authors and critics for its vivid characters and dramatic conflicts.

For centuries, the red planet has enticed the people of Earth. Now an international group of scientists has colonized Mars. Leaving Earth forever, these 100 people have traveled nine months to reach their new home. This is the remarkable story of the world they create - and the hidden power struggles of those who want to control it.

Would you try another book from Kim Stanley Robinson and/or Richard Ferrone?

Not likely. My time is too valuable to waist on dated science.

What could Kim Stanley Robinson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

He should have remembered that an author never subjugates story to exposition.

Which scene was your favorite?

???

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment for what he might have accomplished.

Any additional comments?

In Red Mars, Kim documents in encyclopedic detail his fascination with the ordinary, mundane, and inconsequential details of daily life in space and on Mars. The drama of the first 100 humans establishing a science station on Mars are so completely hidden in the technical details that I recommend you treat their discovery as the books first major subplot. I recommend paper and pen to record the infrequent clues. However, after a second or third reading, the story will become clear. Readers interested in 30-year-old science can skip the story and enjoy what might have been.

Gods of Newport

In the late 19th century, Newport, Rhode Island, was a cauldron of money, excess, and unapologetic greed, where reputations were made and lost in a whirlwind of parties and fancied slights. But amid the glamour of yacht races, tennis matches, and costume balls raged undeclared class warfare, scandalous doings, even madness. In 1893, railroad mogul Sam Driver, one of the few surviving robber barons of the lawless years after the Civil War, knocks on the door of fabled Newport with his daughter, Jenny.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

My time listening to this book was not well spent. The story moved slower than the Mississippi on a hot summer day and was just a predictable in its flow.

What could John Jakes have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

John Jakes could have written a better story by dropping the never-ending history lesson. What background I needed should have been included with the story not “told” to me by the narrator. Further, John seems to despise not only the Sam, but all of the wealthy people in the story. I don’t have any idea if that was intentional, but it lowers the story to a diatribe against the rich and famous. It is more than telling that all of the business ventures of Sam’s partners turned out to be failures. It makes one wonder how they ever got so rich.

Which character – as performed by Jack Garrett – was your favorite?

None of the characters stand out as particularly noteworthy.

Do you think Gods of Newport needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, absolutely not.

Any additional comments?

While a good narrator can't save a poor book, Jack Garrett made a valiant effort in this case.

Codex

About to depart on his first vacation in years, Edward Wozny, a hotshot young investment banker, is sent to help one of his firm's most important and mysterious clients. His task is to search their library stacks for a precious medieval codex, a treasure kept sealed away for many years and for many reasons.

Yes, I loved Codex. I was reading (listening to) a New York Times member one bestseller with a sexy twist when I began reading Codex. I couldn’t stop listening to Codex until I had finished it. It moved along right from the first page. It sucked me into the story and kept me there. I highly recommend.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the way that it kept moving forward without wondering off on needless side trips.

Andrew Carnegie

The Scottish-born son of a failed weaver and a mother who supported the family by binding shoes, Andrew Carnegie was the embodiment of the American dream. In his rise from a job as a bobbin boy in a cotton factory to being the richest man in the world, he was single-minded, relentless and a major player in some of the most violent and notorious labor strikes of the time. The prototype of today's billionaire, he was a visionary in the way he earned his money and in the way he gave it away.

Andrew Carnegie was a very interesting man. He worked hard, took chances, and became rich. He then retreated from direct management of his operations, drove his managers relentlessly, and became even richer. He obsessed over his fortune, ground everyone including his partners under his heal, and became the richest man in the world. Then as an encore, he gave it all away. I can't say his moneymaking, made me jealous, but I learned that he was the friend and dinner companion of Samuel Clemens, AKA Mark Twain, and that did make me jealous.

David Nasaw certainly went through a massive research effort for this book. I wish he had stopped after he had presented three good examples and then moved on to his next point.

Grover Gardner gave a steady and solid performance despite the length of the book. He deserves high marks for this effort.

A Discovery of Witches

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library.

I like science fiction. I don't usually like Gothic romances. Deborah Harkness has fussed these two genres into a new hybrid that is very interesting. Stir in the blending of two usually hostile and wary families, a little taboo, and you've got a great story.

Your report has been received. It will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.

Can't wait to hear more from this listener?

You can now follow your favorite reviewers on Audible.

When you follow another listener, we'll highlight the books they review, and even email* you a copy of any new reviews they write. You can un-follow a listener at any time to stop receiving their updates.

* If you already opted out of emails from Audible you will still get review emails by the listeners you follow.